Three-time gold medalist Charlotte Dujardin has been suspended from equestrian sport for a year after a disturbing video of her whipping a horse was leaked online.
Dujardin is accused of whipping the horse 20 times as it was roaming around a dirt training area. The disgraced champion has withdrawn from the 2024 Paris Olympics, citing the shock of the gruesome clip.
Dujardin, widely regarded as Britain's greatest female horsewoman, will be suspended from all equestrian competitions supervised by the sport's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Equestrian (FEI), on July 23, 2025. He was sentenced to the day.
“Such use clearly amounts to excessive use of the whip which has caused, or may have caused, discomfort or pain to the horse,” the group said in a statement. It is the FEI's view that Dujardin's misconduct warrants sanctions. ”
“Ms. Dujardin has admitted to committing abuse of horses in violation of the FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of Horses and to engaging in conduct that brings the FEI and/or equestrian sport into disrepute,” the statement concluded.
Dujardin was also fined $11,300 and is not allowed to appeal the decision.
British Equestrian and British Dressage both introduce the same suspension.
After the harrowing video surfaced online, Dujardin said she was “deeply ashamed” of her “lapse in judgment” shown in the video.
When Dujardin withdrew from the Olympics in July, he said in a statement: “A video from four years ago has come out that shows me making poor decisions while coaching.”
“What happened is completely out of line and does not reflect on the way I train my horses or teach my students, but there is no excuse. I am very ashamed and set a better example in that moment. I should have.”
Dujardin, who has won six Olympic medals, was rumored to be named Dame in King Charles' New Year's Honors list before the trial.
In addition to being removed from the coveted honour, she was also removed from her role as an ambassador by UK-based horse welfare charity Brooke.
To add insult to injury, the 2017 CBE for services to equestrianism awarded to the athlete by the Royal Family is currently under review by the Honors Committee.
Dujardin, 39, won gold in team dressage and individual dressage at the 2012 London Games and also won gold in individual dressage at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.
She also won silver medals in team dressage in Rio and bronze medals in team dressage and individual dressage in Tokyo 2021.
